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Collins Well Service

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

West Virginia
Doddridge County
West Union

EPA ID# WVSFN0305395

1st Congressional District

Last Update: May 1999
No future updates

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated an emergency removal to eliminate the potential release of hazardous material.

Site Description

The Collins Well Service site consists of a small grassy lot, approximately one quarter acre in size, located on County Route 50/30 approximately one-half mile west of the West Union City line. The site is bordered to the south by Doe Creek, a small tributary to Middle Island Creek. The north and east sides of the site are bordered by residences with the nearest residence 40 feet to the west. The site is the former location of an oil well cleaning company. The property is currently being utilized as a right-of-way for the installation of a six-inch water line and the future installation of a municipal sewer line to provide service for land development in the area.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this site is being
addressed by an EPA Superfund Removal Action is addressing.

NPL Listing History

This site is not on the National
Priorities List.

Threats and Contaminants

During excavation for underground utilities, two drums of carbon disulfide were unearthed. One of the drums exploded, releasing vapors, and continued to burn until the West Union Fire Department extinguished the flames with foam. The excavated pit was backfilled and cordoned off with caution tape. The site posed a threat of exposure, and fire or explosion to the utility's contractor due to the further excavation required to complete their work. A nearby community, centered in a low-lying area enclosed by steep hillsides, could be impacted by a future release. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) specifies that the concentration of carbon disulfide in air that is immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) is 500 parts per million (ppm). Carbon disulfide has a threshold limit value (TLV) of 20 ppm and a flash point of -30øC.

Cleanup Progress

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) requested assistance from EPA for emergency actions. On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Downie and SATA performed an emergency assessment. A site perimeter survey was performed and followed by an on-site entry and magnetometer survey of the area. It was determined that a magnetic anomaly continued to exist where the utility contractor had backfilled the utility trench after the chemical fire was extinguished.

The OSC directed the Emergency Rapid Response Support (ERRS) contractor to remove the carbon disulfide drums. Additionally, exploratory trenches were dug to determine if other drums existed. The remains of the exploded drum and surrounding contaminated soils, along with a 1,000-gallon oil tank, were unearthed and placed in two roll-off containers for disposal. The soil was sampled, characterized, and transported off site for disposal. At the request of the utility contractor, the excavated area was left open so that utility installation could continue as scheduled.